The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) has widened the scope of its labor inspection into the London Bagel Museum, a bakery cafe facing allegations of a worker's death from overwork. In addition to the London Bagel Museum headquarters and 10 locations nationwide, the ministry will examine working conditions at related companies of LBM (the operator of London Bagel Museum), including Artist Bakery.
The ministry said on the 4th that it will conduct labor inspections at a total of 18 business sites, including the London Bagel Museum headquarters and locations nationwide, as well as LBM affiliates such as Artist Bakery, Layered, and Highwest. Earlier, on the 29th, the ministry launched a planned inspection only of the London Bagel Museum headquarters and two locations in Incheon, but has now expanded the scope.
The ministry said the expansion came "after indications of some legal violations were identified through employee surveys and interviews during this inspection." Going forward, the ministry will review not only labor standards such as long working hours, proper granting of leave and holidays, and wage arrears, but also potential violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, including illness and accidents. Over the past three years, a total of 63 industrial accident cases were filed and approved at the London Bagel Museum.
Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor said, "Through this inspection, we will clearly uncover the various allegations related to the corporation and hold it strictly accountable if violations of the law are confirmed," adding, "We will eradicate wrongful practices at worksites so that unlawful or evasive business operations are not perceived as part of corporate innovation or management innovation."
Previously, it belatedly came to light that a worker in his 20s who worked as a junior manager there died in July. The bereaved family claimed the deceased worked close to 80 hours a week before death and died from overwork, but the company reportedly made a different claim at the outset, sparking controversy. After back-and-forth, the bereaved family and LBM reached a settlement the day before, and the family reportedly decided to withdraw the industrial accident claim. The ministry's labor inspection will continue separately.